News & Notes

NOAA’s 2017 Hurricane Season Awareness WebinarsNOAA’s Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team (SECART) announces a webinar series in advance of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Join us to hear from NOAA specialists from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), the Weather Prediction Center (WPC), the Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC), and National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) as they provide updates and awareness information to help you prepare for the upcoming season. A Spanish language summary version of these webinars will also be provided with a separate announcement to come.Registration URL:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6543376597911194881Webinar ID: 408-323-779Connection Information:Registering once for the webinar series will allow you access to all four sessions. You will receive an e-mail reminder one day and one hour before each session. The registration link, webinar schedules, and summaries will also be available on the NOAA SECART website (http://www.regions.noaa.gov/secar/). We will also post copies of the slides used and a recording of the webinars there within a few days following their completion . Audio: The audio portion of the webinar will be available through VoIP, and/or a telephone number you will receive once you register and when you log in to the webinar. If prompted, please be sure to enter an Audio PIN that you will receive once you log in to the webinar. Follow us and make comments on social media using:#NOAAHurricaneAwareHurricane Series Session Schedule and Information:Title: New NOAA Satellite Capabilities and Tropical Cyclone ResearchDate: Thursday 4 May 2017, 10:00 - 11:00 AM EDTSpeakers: Dr. Mark DeMaria (Chief, Technology and Science Branch, National Hurricane Center) and Dr. Frank Marks (Director, Hurricane Research Division, AOML)Summary: This webinar will discuss capabilities of the new GOES-16 satellite and research plans for the 2017 hurricane season. Mark DeMaria of the National Hurricane Center will show how the new satellite data is likely to improve tropical cyclone analysis and forecasting, and present example products and applications that were gathered during the GOES-R proving ground project. During the second part of the webinar, Frank Marks of the NOAA Hurricane Research Division will discussion research activities and plans for the 2017 hurricane season.Title: Storm Surge Warnings and Graphics Date: Tuesday 9 May 2017, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDTSpeaker: Robbie Berg (Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center)Summary: Hurricane Specialist Robbie Berg of the National Hurricane Center will show how National Weather Service (NWS) storm surge forecasts are made. He will also describe and provide examples of new real-time storm surge products that are available during hurricane threats along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coastlines. Robbie will also talk about the new NWS Storm Surge Watch and Warning that will debut in the 2017 hurricane season.Title: NHC and Local NWS Offices Overview of New Products and ServicesDate: Tuesday 23 May 2017, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDTSpeakers: Dan Brown (Senior Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center) and Matt Moreland (Meteorologist-In-Charge, NWS WFO, Key West, FL)Summary: This webinar will discuss new NHC products and services that will be available during the 2017 hurricane season. These new products include a new National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch and Warning that will highlight areas at risk of life-threatening storm surge flooding during tropical cyclones and a new capability for the NWS to issue advisories and tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for systems not yet a tropical cyclone, but that pose an imminent threat to land. The webinar will conclude with a look at new local NWS Forecast Office tropical cyclone threats and impact graphics and hurricane local statements.Title: Hurricane Inland Flooding - Risks and WarningsDate: Tuesday 30 May 2017, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDTSpeakers: Dr. David Novak (Director, Weather Prediction Center), Paula Cognitore (Hydrologist, NWS Southeast River Forecast Center), and Richard Bandy (Meteorologist-in-Charge NWS WFO Newport/Morehead City, NC)Summary:This webinar will focus on one of the most deadly, but often overlooked threat from tropical storms and hurricanes - inland flooding from rainfall. Historically, the greatest loss of life from hurricanes has often been a result of flooding. This webinar will feature Dr. David Novak, from the Weather Prediction Center, which forecasts rainfall and associated hazards across the entire country. Paula Cognitore, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service Southeast River Forecast Center will discuss the forecast role of a river forecast center in providing forecasts of flooding during tropical systems, and Richard Bandy, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City, NC will discuss the role of a local office in issuing flash flood and river flood forecasts, with a discussion of experiences during Hurricane Matthew in 2016.